Myanmar has sought to improve its international reputation following a transfer of power [BBC report] from a military regime to a civil system in March after holding its first elections in 20 years. Last month, Myanmar's government formed the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission (MNHRC) [JURIST report] to promote and safeguard the country's constitutional rights. In August, UN Special Rapporteur on the situation of human rights in Myanmar Tomas Ojea Quintana [official profile] urged the government of Myanmar to investigate human rights abuses [JURIST report] and improve its rights record. In May, Myanmar began releasing as many as 15,000 prisoners [JURIST report] as part of an amnesty program after a visit from a special envoy from the UN secretary-general, but rights groups claim the government has not gone far enough. Critics of the new regime argue it is merely a sham since it is made up of military generals and with the military party winning 80 percent of the vote.

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